Conrad Delivered the Finished and Typed (but uncorrected) text of Under Western Eyes to Pinker at once, on the 27th of January, undoubtedly expecting an advance. Jessie remembered that he was in a state of unusual excitement and irritation when he left home. We can easily imagine the fatal conversation: Conrad asked for money, explaining at the same time that the novel was not yet ready to be shown to editors and publishers. When Pinker offered resistance, possibly reproaching him for failing to abide by the conditions of their agreement (that is, for constant delays in submitting the finished copy), Conrad’s mounting irritation increased his usually strong accent or even made him use an incorrect expression. His agent, also roused by the altercation, told him to speak English. The remark offended Conrad deeply. After spending the night at Galsworthy’s, Conrad returned to Aldington in a very bad mood. He began sorting out the manuscript, but it was obvious to Jessie that he did not feel well. This happened in the last days of January.

The symptoms were disturbing: an attack of gout in his whole body, high fever, loss of consciousness—again he frightened his wife by raving in Polish—and, worst of all, a complete nervous breakdown. In response to Pinker, who apparently demanded the text, Jessie explained: “Only two hours before Conrad was taken ill he absolutely forbade me to touch the MS which he has arranged after a great deal of trouble.” Together with her letter she even enclosed Dr. Hackney’s certificate dated 3 February: “I am of opinion that Mr Conrad is much too ill to attend to any sort of work or to undergo the slightest mental exertion. He will not be anything like well for another ten days.” To her friends Jessie wrote openly, “Conrad has had a complete nervous breakdown and gout. Gout everywhere, throat, tongue, head. There are two swellings on the back of his head as big as my fist. Poor boy, he lives the novel, rambles all the time and insists the Dr and I are trying to put him into an asylum.”